NIGEL Havers has defended the appointment of his aunt Lady Butler-Sloss as the head of an enquiry into claims the establishment covered up child abuse.

Several high profile figures have expressed concern about her leading role in an expansive probe into whether abuse by politicians and other powerful figures in institutions during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s was swept under the carpet.

The former High Court judge has faced calls to step down after reports that her late brother Sir Michael Havers, who was the Attorney General, tried to prevent ex-MP Geoffrey Dickens airing claims about a diplomat in Parliament in the 1980s.

Nigel Havers, son of Lord Havers and Lady Butler-Sloss's nephew, told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme: "I know my aunt very well and had she felt any form of bias or any idea that she shouldn't be doing this inquiry she would have pulled out this morning.

"The very fact that she hasn't means to me that she feels she has absolutely had no political ties to my father and knew nothing about what was going on in the House of Commons at that time and therefore she has every right to, I think, continue to lead the inquiry."

Havers said Lady Butler-Sloss was "totally honest, totally transparent, highly respected and very, very good at her job", adding: "I don't think the fact that my father was Attorney General at the time makes any difference whatsoever."

Havers said he had never discussed the claims that are now being made with his father while he was alive.

He said: "I was blissfully making movies or doing my job and I didn't really have a great deal of interest in politics at the time except that I know that he worked very hard and was very close to what was going on in government but, as you said, he is not around to defend himself."

Earlier, Lady Butler-Sloss told the BBC: "If people think I am not suitable, then that's up to them."

The Home Office said that Lady Butler-Sloss was "beyond reproach" [NICHOLAS RAZZELL]

The Home Office said Lady Butler-Sloss's integrity was "beyond reproach" and it stood "unreservedly" by her appointment.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman added: "She commands the very highest respect for her professional expertise and integrity."

Labour's Simon Danczuk, who has led the campaign for an investigation into claims, said the cross-bench peer's position was compromised of her connection to Sir Michael Havers.

He told the BBC: "We want somebody in the chair that exudes confidence and that's not the case. She is part of the establishment and that raises concerns, and the relationship in terms of her brother, I think, is too close for comfort. I think that's the conclusion most people will reach.

"I think the Government should think again in terms of who they have appointed for this position."

Sir Michael is said to have had a 20 minute argument outside the Commons chamber with Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens in the 1980s in an attempt to stop him using parliamentary privilege to name diplomat Sir Peter Hayman as a paedophile.

Mr Danczuk added: "I think she should consider her position. I find it quite surprising that neither she nor the Government realised her relationship with her brother was connected to Geoffrey Dickens and all the palaver around it.

"It beggars belief that that hadn't been considered in the first place."

Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry also questioned the appointment of Lady Butler-Sloss.

She told BBC Two's Daily Politics programme: "I don't question this admirable, extraordinary woman's integrity... But I'm surprised the Home Office didn't look at this, because I think they have put her in a very difficult position."

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